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Author Topic: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase  (Read 4799 times)

nickbsmith8

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French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« on: April 06, 2014, 06:44:32 AM »
Hello Everyone-
I recently picked up this musket which I thought some might be interested in. As far as I can tell, it is a French produced Fusil de Chase. The maker Antoine Robert was born in 1722 and died in 1784, and worked out of the St Etienne Arsenal. It seems this musket was once converted to percussion, then reconverted, and I believe a section of the forward stock is a newer replacement. I was wondering if anyone could tell me anymore about this piece, especially the significance of the strange cross symbol on the lock.
Thanks!
Nick








« Last Edit: April 06, 2014, 06:49:07 AM by nickbsmith8 »
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Offline Habu

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2014, 08:41:45 AM »
The "strange cross" looks to me like a pair of crossed anchors.  I have no idea what that would mean though, unless the lock is possibly a replacement. 
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Offline Steve Collward

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2014, 02:36:13 PM »
I believe the crossed anchors are the mark for the French Naval Board.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2014, 04:15:04 PM »
It is a Fusil le anchor, or so it was called back in the day. Probably built in the late 1740's to 1760ish. The nose cap is a resent addition of course. Very nice find, take good care of it.
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NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2014, 02:52:30 AM »
This is actually a fusil a' double ancre. Robert filled many contracts for New France.
 Do you have any pics or the top of the buttplate and the carving at the breech plug tang? Barrel length? Bore size?
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NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Mike R

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2014, 04:09:03 PM »
Yes...check out Kevin Gladys book on the French trade guns--he has a whole section on the anchor guns...
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Offline alex e.

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2014, 12:53:28 PM »
From the pictures I'm not convinced its totally French. We need good pictures of the whole lock,breech tang and carving, the whole trigger guard,,top view of the BP. I'll withhold my thoughts till then.All taken squared at the gun. Thank you for sharing.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2014, 12:57:07 PM by alex e. »
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Uva uvam videndo varia fit

Offline James Rogers

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2014, 02:49:11 PM »
There's something strange about that lock engraving to me.
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nickbsmith8

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Re: French mid 18th century Fusil de Chase
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2014, 04:23:18 PM »
Hello-
I am currently just working with pictures from the seller, as the musket is still in the mail. These are the only other pics I have at the time, but will post more detailed ones when she arrives. I did notice some distinct similarities between the furniture of my fusil and this example at the NRA museum...
http://www.nramuseum.org/the-museum/the-galleries/the-road-to-american-liberty/case-17-the-arms-of-the-american-revolution-i/french-flintlock-fusil.aspx



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